First pictures have been released for Starz' new fantasy series OUTLANDER which is coming to the small screens later this year (most probably in spring). Based on the popular fantasy novels by Diana Gabaldon sold in more than 20 million copies, this 16 episode show, set in the 17th century, will be produced by BATTLESTAR GALACTICA's RonaldMoore. Today we spotlight the story and the characters.

THE STORY OF OUTLANDER

THE CHOICE OF HEART

Spanning the genres of romance, science fiction history and adventure into one epic tale, OUTLANDER follows the story of Claire Randall, a married combat nurse from 1945 who is mysteriously swept back in time to 1743, where she is immediately thrown into an unknown world where her life is threatened. When she is forced to marry Jamie Fraser, a chivalrous and romantic young Scottish warrior, a passionate affair is ignited that tears Claire’s heart between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.

CAITRIONA BALFE

IS CLAIRE RANDALL

Gorgeous Irish top model Caitriona Balfe (NOW YOU SEE ME) will head the cast in the 16 episode series based on Diana Gabaldon's bestselling novels. She will play the protagonist Claire Randall, a nurse who will have to tackle both time travel and love dilemmas.

SAM HEUGHAN

IS JAMIE FRASERTaking the male lead in the show is Scottish actor Sam Heughan who
plays Jamie Fraser a chivalrous and romantic young Scottish warrior who
falls in love with Claire. Armed with sheer grit and enduring strength,
Fraser is a young Scottish clan lord with a complicated past and a
disarming sense of humor. He's also intelligent, principled and, by
18th-century standards, educated and worldly, with tenderness and
compassion that stand out in contrast to his contemporaries. A natural
leader of men, he has no political ambitions or desire for battlefield
glory. Instead, he wishes to remove the price on his head and return to
his family’s ancestral farm.

TOBIAS MENZIES

IS DOUBLE RANDALL

Meanwhile, ROME and GAME OF THRONES star Tobias Menzies will play the dual role of Frank Randall and Jonathan "Black Jack" Randall! Frank is Claire's 20th century husband and a professional historian with a particular interest in the 18th century and his own genealogy. Frank and Claire are reunited in 1945 after being separated by the war and rekindle their relationship when Claire disappears. Jonathan Black Jack is Frank's dark and violent ancestor from the 18th century and a captain in the English Army posted into Scotland during the rebellion.

LOTTE VERBEEK

TO PLAY GEILLIS DUNCAN

THE BORGIAS' star Lotte Verbeek will play the enigmatic and witchy Geillis Duncan, wife of the procurator fiscal.

THE FRASER CLAN

GRAHAM MCTAVISH, GARY LEWIS & DUNCAN LACROIX

Actors who already have experience in the epic genre - Graham McTavish (HOBBIT), Gary Lewis (BILLY ELLIOTT) and Duncan Lacroix (GAME OF THRONES, VIKINGS) - will play Scottish warriors, the uncles and godfathers of Jamie Fraser.

Woooohoo. I do like the casting. It's such a fun, escapist type story. And, yeah, I hope it translates well to the screen. So glad they went with a series instead of a movie though. There's a lot of story to cover (and a lot of Scots to Uncover). :PP